Obama Pakistan comment prompts local protest

October 09, 2008

Said Umar Khan (second from right) makes a point today as he joins ofther members of Chicago's Pakistani community at a press conference before presenting a letter to U.S. Senator Barack Obama's office in downtown Chicago to urge him not to escalate U.S. military action in Pakistan. (Chicago Tribune photo by Tom Van Dyke)

A group of Pakistani-Americans and anti-war activists delivered a letter today to the Chicago office of Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, calling on him to cool political rhetoric about bombing targets in Pakistan.

"We are particularly concerned with your public pronouncements earlier this week in support of violating the borders of our ally, the country of Pakistan...," the letter says. "You must understand the sweeping dismay that your avowed support for U.S. military incursions into Pakistan ... has elicited among untold numbers of Pakistani-Americans and peace activists across the country."

During his debate Tuesday with Republican candidate Sen. John McCain, Obama said he was not calling for the invasion of Pakistan. But Obama added that "if Pakistan is unable or unwilling to hunt down bin Laden and take him out, then we should."

Ifti Nasim, the host of a Pakistani radio show in Chicago called Sargam, said the U.S. was "making a mistake" by "attacking Pakistan and making Pakistan your enemy."

He and other protesters criticized U.S. military incursions into Pakistan's tribal areas in the northwest part of the country to attack Taliban and Al Qaeda targets. They also decried the Bush administration's use of unmanned military drone aircraft, which has resulted in civilian deaths.

McCain, Nasim said, wants to continue the same policy. The group planned to send a similar letter to McCain.

Said Umar Khan said his hometown of Mardan outside Peshawar in Pakistan's troubled North-West Frontier Province has seen a wave of displaced people escaping fighting in the tribal areas. A recent explosion rocked his sister's home, damaging windows and walls, he said.

Negotiations with Taliban leaders--not Pakistani or U.S. military actions--will end the violence, Khan said.

The tough rhetoric against Pakistan in the presidential campaign has left many Pakistani-Americans wondering which candidate to support.

"McCain and Obama are the same," said Raja M. Yaqub, chairman of the Coalition of Pakistani Organizations in Chicago. "Muslims and Pakistani Americans are confused over who they should vote for."

On Thursday, Obama campaign officials restated his comments from the debate earlier this week. They added that Obama understands Pakistan is an "important ally" and is also calling for a partnership with the South Asian nation through increased U.S. aid for health, education and security.

The Pakistani-Americans and other immigrant and anti-war groups such as the Chicago Coalition Against War and Racism plan to hold an anti-war march at 2 p.m. Saturday at Devon Avenue and Leavitt Street.